Step 1

Make the Gingerbread Dough:

Step 2

In a large saucepan combine molasses and shortening. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and water and stir to dissolve, set aside.

Step 3

Bring the molasses and shortening to a boil, stirring frequently. Once boiling, remove from heat and stir in the soda/water mixture, mixing well to combine.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl use an electric mixer or stand mixture to combine the sugar, eggs and vanilla.

Step 5

Add the molasses mixture to the sugar/egg mixture and mix well to combine.

Step 6

Add the flour, salt, and spices and mix to combine. Place dough in a large ziplock bag and smash use the palm of your hand to shape it into a large, flat disk inside of the bag.

Step 7

Chill the gingerbread for several hours, or make up to 1 week in advance.

Step 8

Bake the gingerbread house pieces (link to .pdf of my pattern is above in the post):

Step 9

Preheat your oven to Remove the gingerbread dough from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. Cut dough into four equal pieces, and use your hands to mold each piece into a thick rectangle, as best as possible.

Step 10

Place a damp towel on your countertop and place a piece of wax or parchment paper ontop of the towel. (The damp towel will keep the parchment paper from sliding asyou roll out the dough.)

Step 11

Lightly dust your hands and one of the pieces of gingerbread with flour. Roll the pieceinto a large rectangle, no more than ¼ inch thick.  Before you bake the gingerbread, make sure the pattern pieces you will cut from that piece of gingerbread fit on top of thedough you’ve rolled out. Watch the corners particularly.

Step 12

Place the gingerbread (still on the parchment paper) onto a large baking sheet orjelly-roll pan and bake at 375 degrees F for 11-12 minutes. Remove from oven.

Step 13

Cut your house pattern pieces while the gingerbread is still warm from the oven. (You can cut your own patterns or download and print my pattern. See the download link above in the post!) As each batch comes out of the oven, place pattern pieces on top and use a sharp serrated knife to cut the pattern out, pulling the scraps away from the pieces you cut.  Allow gingerbread to cool completely before removing from the parchment paper.

Step 14

Royal Icing for gingerbread houses:

Step 15

Place all ingredients in a metal mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and standing peaks (about 4-6 minutes).  Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth as you use the frosting (this will help keep the frosting from drying out).

Step 16

Assemble the Gingerbread House:

Step 17

Find assembly instructions and step-by-step photos above in the post, or in the printable .pdf.